EC football team ends season with a loss

Receiver Vladimir Gray leaps over a Long Beach City College player during the Warriors’ 53-31 loss Nov. 15. Photo credit: Tristan Bellisimo

With nothing to lose, the EC football team was looking to upset Long Beach City College on Nov. 15.

The Warriors’ defense wasn’t able to contain LBCC as the team faced a 21-0 deficit in the first quarter of the game during the team’s 53-31 loss.

The Warriors finally scored when sophomore quarterback Joey Notch connected with sophomore wide receiver Devante Jenkins on a 28-yard touchdown which brought the team’s deficits to 21-6 after EC’s two point conversion attempt failed.

The team would only trail by nine after sophomore running back Kendell Sparks rumbled in for a 1-yard touchdown.

After bringing the score to 21-12, EC wouldn’t be able to keep up with the offensive onslaught that LBCC went on.

LBCC quarterback Kenny Potter would connect with wide receiver De-Quan Hampton for a 1-yard touchdown to bring the score to 28-12.

That touchdown would start a 17 point run that LBCC would go on to put the game away and not give the Warriors any opportunity for a comeback.

After that the teams went back-and-forth scoring and EC wouldn’t be able to get its defense going.

The Warriors finished the season 3-7 and 1-5 in the South Coast Conference.

Notch finished the game with 200 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Despite the loss the team was able to form a bond they will not forget.

“We grew as a family,” Ralph Harvey Jr. said. “We became close as brothers and learned a lof from the coaching staff.

Sparks would finish the game with eight rushes for 42 yards and one touchdown.

Jenkins would have 10 catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Jenkins would also have a 40-yard touchdown.

Overall the team’s achille’s heel was its lack of playing a consistent balanced football for an entire game.

The last score of the game would solidify this when EC had an extra point blocked and returned 98 yards for a safety.

Next season the Warriors will still play home games at Redondo Union High School.